ACHIEVING GOAL ONE OF THE SDGs: Social Development and Social Work Responses to Poverty Reduction in the Global South

The global challenge of poverty eradication and to give effect to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal one (SDG one) is a significant challenge for the social work profession. To respond effectively to this challenge, it is argued that new mental maps and models are needed to shift from an over-reliance on remedial social work interventions to one that positions social work within a wider development agenda that is rights based, participatory, multi-sectoral and multi-modal interventions, that is pro-poor, and that combines economic and social development strategies. The chapter first outlines the nature and scope of poverty globally and discusses its key concepts, approaches, and strategies to eradicate poverty. Second, it explores the nexus between the social development approach (SDA), which is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and social work from a developmental perspective. Third, poverty eradication strategies that are widely adopted in development contexts such as social protection policies and programs are reviewed including social development innovations that combine cash transfers with social work services and community level development interventions. Finally, pointers to accelerate social work’s contribution to poverty reduction and human well-being are proposed.